Former Olympic Canoeist David Hearn Indicted Over Reflecting Pool Vandalism

A grand jury in Washington, D.C. indicted former Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn on a single felony count of destruction of property after prosecutors said he ripped up part of the newly installed sealant in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro told reporters, “Today, a grand jury has returned a felony indictment against a defendant, David Hearn, for felony destruction of property, for which he faces 10 years in prison.” The indictment alleges Hearn “forcefully and violently” removed roughly two square feet of the pool’s bottom liner, causing damage exceeding $1,000.

Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, maintains he only touched a loose piece of coating while cycling past the pool on June 19, saying, “I’m a curious citizen… I reached down to see what it felt like.” He was detained for five hours by National Guard troops and Park Police before being released. The case comes amid President Donald Trump’s criticism of the $14‑million renovation project that turned the pool’s “American flag blue” coating green with algae, prompting the administration to label any damage as vandalism. A hearing is set for July 9, and prosecutors said about half a dozen other cases related to the pool are under review, most as misdemeanors.